​This here is Spike, an 8 year-old dachshund-terrier mix. Recently, Spike wasn’t acting like his usual self and his mom brought him to the vet. They learned that Spike had a bladder infection and bladder stones. The vet prescribed prescription food hoping it would help the UTI and bladder stones.

Unfortunately, Spike wasn’t improving after his first visit, so his mom returned to the vet. Much to their surprise, Spike was also diagnosed with diabetes and the vet recommended surgery to remove the bladder stones. This single mother who is on a limited income was worried she wouldn’t be able to afford the cost to have the surgery done after paying for the original vet bill, and the vet bill diagnosing him with diabetes. So, she reached out to Fur Kids Foundation for help, and we were able to provide assistance. We received a message updating us that Spike is feeling much better and is back to his normal self. It’s our hope we’ll see Spike wandering around at some of our events.

Dogs, like people, can develop a variety of bladder and kidney stones. Bladder stones are rock-like formations of minerals that form in the bladder. And, just like in people, these bladder stones can be quite painful for your pooch. The most common signs that a dog has bladder stones is blood in the urine, or straining to urinate—the two symptoms that Daisy had before her parents rushed her to the vet. Breeds most commonly diagnosed with bladder stones include the shih tzu, miniature schnauzer, bichon frisé, lhasa apso, and Yorkshire terrier. If you see the symptoms described above in your pooch, Fur Kids Foundation encourages you to take them to the vet for a proper examination.

Diabetes, a common condition for humans, is also relatively common in domestic animals like dogs. According to The Bark, a veterinarian may discover diabetes in your dog with routine bloodwork, but before that, you are likely to notice some of these symptoms: greater than normal hunger and/or thirst, weight loss, and frequent or copious urination (some dogs start having accidents in the house). If you notice these symptoms in Fido, be sure to schedule an appointment with your veterinarian. This Whole Dog Journal article, Managing Diabetes in Dogs, has some great information for you to review should your dog have diabetes.

Fur Kids Foundation was recently awarded a $3,500 grant from the Banfield Foundation® to be used to help the Gillette, Wyoming charity with their emergency veterinary assistance program. This funding helped the Foundation grant money to help Ziggy’s family with her vet trip. ​If you would like to help Fur Kids Foundation continue to help families with animals, please consider making a tax-deductible donation. The money helps families during a time when they may not be able to afford adequate veterinary care. Check out more Success Stories.

In August 2016, Fur Kids Foundation had six families apply for assistance, and we were able to help four families for a total of $1130.40 given in aid. Below is some information on the cases we were able to help with:

This month shows that we are not always able to provide assistance to every family who requests help. This happens for many reasons. Sometimes the vet bill doesn’t end up being as costly as expected so the family tells us that they can pay the bill, sometimes the applicant doesn’t complete the entire application process, or sometimes the applicant exceeds our income guidelines. To learn more about our application process, please check out our Application for Assistance, and be sure to check out our Terms of Assistance near the bottom of the application. You may also call and speak with any of our Case Managers about the process at 307.363.1131 or email furkidsfoundation@gmail.com.

We are grateful for the dedication of Fur Kids Foundation volunteers and supporters who have helped these families stay happy and healthy, and together! When you volunteer, attend an event, or help us raise money by supporting the businesses who support us with promotions, these families are who you are helping. Thank you again for all that you do for the Fo​undation, and for families with pets in Campbell County, Wyoming.

Tiffany SylvesterThe Fur Kids Foundation board of directors wants to give a huge shout out to Tiffany Sylvester as the August Volunteer of the Month!

Tiffany joined our pack last July and has been a great addition to our team! Tiffany is very helpful to the Foundation by sharing a lot of the information we post on our page about events and happenings with her friends and followers on her own page. This is very helpful for us, as it helps us get the information out to more people. She also reaches out to board members with ideas on other ways we can make more money or engage further with our followers.

She not only gives us ideas and shares information, she also helps out a lot at our events. Tiffany spent both sessions with us at this year’s Pooch Plunge, and did a paw-tastic job as a Dog Guard (orange is definitely her color). For the last two years, she’s worked with her colleagues at the CCMH Laboratory to create fantastic Silent Auction Baskets for Pooch Plunge or Pet-A-Palooza – last year, her basket was bought at the Plunge, and donated back for Pet-A-Palooza! And, on top of that, she’s created other fun items for this year’s Silent Auction (like her beautiful hand-made glass paw print coasters) and Table of Treats and Trinkets, and is working on the photo booth #signs for Pet-A-Palooza.

Thank you Tiffany for joining our pack! We’re so happy to have you as a volunteer.We’re always posting how pawsome our volunteers are, and we sincerely mean it. If you have seen a volunteer go above and beyond, please contact us.

The Fur Kids Foundation is selling delicious caramel apples made locally by Foundation supporter The Rusty Bucket. And, you'll be able to sink your teeth into one (or more) of these decadent treats at Pet-A-Palooza on Saturday, September 10! So, order ahead of time, or swing by the Fur Kids Foundation booth at the event to purchase or order others.

The apples are $7 each, and believe us, they are mouthwatering good! These goodies are made from beautiful Granny Smith apples that are coated in a smooth, homemade caramel sauce with a variety of candy, cookie, or chocolate coatings. There are 14 different flavors to choose from:

Some 200 dogs took a dip in the Pool today at the Fur Kids Foundation Pooch Plunge and plungers helped us raise over $1,050! Thank you so very much! Photos are posted to the Foundation's Facebook page (in the 2016 Pooch Plunge album) and to the Facebook event, so please feel free to tag yourself in them and share them with your friends. We'd also love it if you posted photos or videos of your dogs in the Facebook event so others can see how much fun it was. Below are some photos submitted by attendees -- enjoy!

If you didn't know, the money raised at this event goes to help families with pets with emergency veterinary care. You can read about the pets we've helped in our Success Stories page. We are quite proud to say that roughly 80% of the money we raise goes to help local families with pets. Thank you for your support and we sure hope to see you at Pet-A-Palooza on September 10 at CAM-PLEX Park for more paw-tastic fun!

We'd like to give a special shout out to the City of Gillette and Kay Friedlan and Micheala Cina with the Campbell County Recreation Center for letting us have this fundraiser at the City Pool. And, a HUGE shout out to the volunteers and board members who helped us run this event: Andi, Lynn, Fawna, Tiffany, Crystal, Leah, Erin, Jordan, Laura, Elise, Diane, Donna, Val, Cassie, Mary M., Tara, Cody, Robynn, Linda, Mary L., Shannon, Greg and Britt! If you're interested in volunteering with the Foundation, please complete an application.

This morning, seven of Fur Kids Foundation volunteers took to Dalbey Memorial Park (fishing lake) in Gillette, Wyoming to Scoop the Poop. The determined group collected nearly 15 pounds of dog waste left behind, and received thanks from several community members enjoying the park with their dogs and families. This number is significantly lower than in 2015, when 85 pounds of dog droppings were collected from Dalbey and McManamen Parks - 60 pounds alone was collected from Dalbey that year. FKF hopes this decrease is from groups like us and Keep Gillette Beautiful getting the word out about the importance of scooping the poop!

Remember: Each park provides plastic bags to pick up your dog's waste, we ask that if you don't bring your own poo bags to please utilize those provided by the parks. If you walk your dog on public streets or let your dog roam your back yard, please remember to scoop the poop. You make the difference.

Why is Fur Kids Foundation so down on dog poo left behind at parks? Not only is it the right thing to do—and there is no such thing as a poop fairy—dog waste left behind by dog owners on walks poo-lutes! Here are three explanations:

Besides the unsightliness of dog waste on the ground, left behind dog poo poses a significant health hazard to people. The CDC confirms that pet waste can spread parasites including hookworms, ringworms, roundworms, tapeworms and Salmonella.

Left behind do poo also contributes to harmful bacteria to our lakes, streams and waterways. When it rains, dog waste left on the ground washes into storm drains, which then flows into nearby streams, lakes and waterways including Gillette’s favorite public fishing lake at Dalbey Memorial Park. Therefore, the runoff from neglected pet waste also creates health hazards for fish, ducks, etc.

Dog waste left behind on our trails can also spread parvovirus. Parvovirus, or parvo, is an extremely contagious viral disease that can be transmitted by any person, animal or object that comes in contact with an infected dog's FECES. That’s right, not picking up pet waste can also make Rover ill. Highly resistant, parvovirus can live in the environment for months, and may survive on inanimate objects such as food bowls, shoes, clothes, carpet and floors. It is common for an unvaccinated dog to contract parvovirus from parks where there are many dogs.​

And, one last point: It may be a dirty job, but dog owners have to do it. Scooping your pet's waste is not only neighborly and a way to help keep your pet healthy, it's also the law in the City of Gillette.

In July 2016, Fur Kids Foundation had 14 families apply for assistance, and we were able to help 11 families for a total of $3,199.01 given in aid. Below is some information on the cases we were able to help with:

A dog who needed surgery to remove mass

A dog who needed surgery to remove a blockage

A dog with injured sinuses and bruised lungs due to an encounter with a one-ton pickup

Please note: we are not always able to provide assistance to every family who requests help. This happens for many reasons. Sometimes the vet bill doesn’t end up being as costly as expected so the family tells us that they can pay the bill, sometimes the applicant doesn’t complete the entire application process, or sometimes the applicant exceeds our income guidelines. To learn more about our application process, please check out our Application for Assistance, and be sure to check out our Terms of Assistance near the bottom of the application. You may also call and speak with any of our Case Managers about the process at 307.363.1131.

Fur Kids Foundation was recently awarded a $3,500 grant from the Banfield Foundation® to be used to help the Gillette, Wyoming charity with their emergency veterinary assistance program. This funding helped the Foundation grant money to help with these cases.

We are grateful for the dedication of Fur Kids Foundation volunteers and supporters who have helped these families stay happy and healthy, and together! When you volunteer, attend an event, or help us raise money by supporting the businesses who support us with promotions, these families are who you are helping. Thank you again for all that you do for the Foundation and for families with pets in Campbell County, Wyoming.

Ziggy is a 2-year-old French Bulldog who is quite the party animal! She had a little too much fun on the Fourth of July, and ended up rupturing her cranial cruciate ligaments (CCL)—a ligament that connects the thigh bone to the lower leg bone and stabilizes the stifle joint, which is essentially a “knee”. For a small girl, she was in a lot of pain and very uncomfortable with this injury and the vet said the only way to help would be to have surgery.

Ziggy’s mom is sick with lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, and her dad’s hours were recently cut at work. The family is also facing a foreclosure, so they knew that they couldn’t pay for the surgery without some help. They reached out to FKF for assistance and we were happy to help. Ziggy had her surgery at Red Hills Veterinary Hospital, and we’ve been told that Ziggy is on the mend. She’s also learning not to be quite a party gal!

Most owners of dogs with CCL injuries—also referred to as the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)—first notice a sudden onset of lameness or limping in one or both rear legs. Most of these injuries happen when a dog is running, jumping or engaging in other playful antics. Often an owner will report that their dog stumbled and then came up lame. According to PetWave, other symptoms include:

Abnormal posture, especially over the back and hip areas

Atrophy (withering away) of the muscles of the affected limb

Lameness or weakness in one or both hind legs

Limping or reluctance to use one or both hind limbs, which worsens with exercise and improves with rest

Reluctance to rise, run or jump, especially in the morning when they first wake up

Sitting at an odd angle, with a hind leg slanted off to one side

Swelling around the knee area

Regardless of the severity of the injury, the signs of CCL damage usually become worse if they are not treated, because the pain felt by the dog increases as the stifle joint progressively deteriorates. Also of note, all breeds and both genders are susceptible to this injury; however, Rottweilers, Labrador Retrievers, Staffordshire Bull Terriers, Newfoundlands and other active, large-breed dogs have an an increased risk of suffering from CCL rupture. Rupture of the CCL can happen in any dog at any age, but it seems to occur in young, active pups. When a cruciate ligament ruptures in one leg, there is an increased chance that the CCL in the other leg will eventually become compromised, probably because of the increased weight that will be required to support the other leg as it heals.

If you notice any of these symptoms in your pup, Fur Kids Foundation encourages you to take them to the vet for a full examination.

Fur Kids Foundation was recently awarded a $3,500 grant from the Banfield Foundation® to be used to help the Gillette, Wyoming charity with their emergency veterinary assistance program. This funding helped the Foundation grant money to help Ziggy’s family with her vet trip. ​If you would like to help Fur Kids Foundation continue to help families with animals, please consider making a tax-deductible donation. The money helps families during a time when they may not be able to afford adequate veterinary care. Check out more Success Stories.

Rajah is a 4-year-old Lab Catahoula mix, ball-of-energy dog. She was fortunate enough to be adopted by two sisters who found Rajah in the classifieds for free because her owners were diagnosed with cancer and couldn't handle a high-energy puppy. It was love at first sight, and Rajah has been by her mom's side through college; and when her mom moved back to Wyoming, Raja became a working cow dog.

Rajah is a very high-energy dog—so, she is really great at being a working cow dog! However, she still manages to have a lot of extra energy to burn, which can be burned off by chasing Frisbees, balls, sticks, swimming—you name it, Rajah will race after it. However, all of this activity managed to cause some wear and tear on poor Rajah, and she ended up rupturing both of her cranial cruciate ligaments (CCL)—a ligament that connects the thigh bone to the lower leg bone and stabilizes the stifle joint, which is essentially a “knee”.

Rajah’s mom took a pay cut to move back to Wyoming, and she knew she couldn’t afford the surgeries, but she also wanted Rajah to have a full, happy life of chasing, and working on the farm. She reached out to Fur Kids Foundation for help, and we were more than happy to assist with the surgery for one of her knees, which was done at Red Hills Veterinary Hospital. By next spring, her mom will have enough money saved to fix Rajah’s other knee.

Most owners of dogs with CCL injuries first notice a sudden onset of lameness or limping in one or both rear legs. Most of these injuries happen when a dog is running, jumping or engaging in other playful antics. Often an owner will report that their dog stumbled and then came up lame. According to PetWave, other symptoms include:

Abnormal posture, especially over the back and hip areas

Atrophy (withering away) of the muscles of the affected limb

Lameness or weakness in one or both hind legs

Limping or reluctance to use one or both hind limbs, which worsens with exercise and improves with rest

Reluctance to rise, run or jump, especially in the morning when they first wake up

Sitting at an odd angle, with a hind leg slanted off to one side

Swelling around the knee area

Regardless of the severity of the injury, the signs of CCL damage usually become worse if they are not treated, because the pain felt by the dog increases as the stifle joint progressively deteriorates. Also of note, all breeds and both genders are susceptible to this injury; however, Rottweilers, Labrador Retrievers, Staffordshire Bull Terriers, Newfoundlands and other active, large-breed dogs have an an increased risk of suffering from CCL rupture. Rupture of the CCL can happen in any dog at any age, but it seems to occur in young, active pups. When a cruciate ligament ruptures in one leg, there is an increased chance that the CCL in the other leg will eventually become compromised, probably because of the increased weight that will be required to support the other leg as it heals.

If you notice any of these symptoms in your pup, Fur Kids Foundation encourages you to take them to the vet for a full examination.

Fur Kids Foundation was recently awarded a $3,500 grant from the Banfield Foundation® to be used to help the Gillette, Wyoming charity with their emergency veterinary assistance program. This funding helped the Foundation grant money to help Raja’s mom with her vet trip. ​If you would like to help Fur Kids Foundation continue to help families with animals, please consider making a tax-deductible donation. The money helps families during a time when they may not be able to afford adequate veterinary care. Check out more Success Stories.

**************UPDATE**************

On August 22, 2016, we got an update on Rajah! Check out what Rajah's mom wrote!

Dear Fur Kids,

Thank you so much for your financial help in Rajah's CCL surgery. She is doing great, doctors have said she is recovering so well and they are happy to see how well she has responded to the surgery. Thank you again for all your help in making my dog a healthier pup and me a happy owner!Sincerely,

Daisy Mae gave her parents quite a scare recently. This 10-year-old shih tzu was rushed to the vet after her mom found her lying in a puddle of blood and urine, acting out of it and shaking uncontrollably.

Daisy’s parents had noticed she was having a difficult time urinating and was passing blood before this scary incident. After a physical exam, the doctor ran some bloodwork and radiographs, which showed a large stone in her bladder; causing an obstruction and making it impossible for Daisy to go potty. The vet had to perform emergency surgery to remove the stone. Daisy Mae stayed overnight and then was released next day into the loving arms of her family. The vet has given Daisy some new chow to eat so new stones won’t form in her bladder and cause problems in the future.

Daisy comes from a large family of five, who are currently trying to make it on a single income that had just been cut by 50 percent. When the vet said Daisy needed surgery, they weren’t sure they would be able to afford it. That’s where Fur Kids Foundation can help. They applied, and we were happy to help this little gal, and her family, out.

​Daisy's parents sent us a note to thank us for helping their baby. This is what they had to say: "I meant to call you call you back last night and wanted to tell you thank you so much for blessing us. We are truly, truly grateful. God's love was shown to us through your acts of generosity and kindness!"

Dogs, like people, can develop a variety of bladder and kidney stones. Bladder stones are rock-like formations of minerals that form in the bladder. And, just like in people, these bladder stones can be quite painful for your pooch. The most common signs that a dog has bladder stones is blood in the urine, or straining to urinate—the two symptoms that Daisy had before her parents rushed her to the vet. Breeds most commonly diagnosed with bladder stones include the shih tzu, miniature schnauzer, bichon frisé, lhasa apso, and Yorkshire terrier. If you see the symptoms described above in your pooch, Fur Kids Foundation encourages you to take them to the vet for a proper examination.

Fur Kids Foundation was recently awarded a $3,500 grant from the Banfield Foundation® to be used to help the Gillette, Wyoming charity with their emergency veterinary assistance program. This funding helped the Foundation grant money to help Daisy Mae’s family with her vet trip. ​If you would like to help Fur Kids Foundation continue to help families with animals, please consider making a tax-deductible donation. The money helps families during a time when they may not be able to afford adequate veterinary care. Check out more Success Stories.

Created in November 2011, the Fur Kids Foundation is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides education and aid to promote the well-being of animals in Campbell County.

Your donation saves lives. It goes to work helping animals in Campbell County receive adequate veterinary care during a time when their family may not be able to afford it. Please contact the Foundation to learn more or donate now using PayPal.

Author

The Fur Kids Foundation blog is written by board member and Founder Felicia. If you have ideas that you would like to see published in the blog such as concerns about pet-focused topics in the community or a funny story, please contact the Foundation. Enjoy!